CWA X-model cabins in the bottom station.Cabin parking rails in the bottom station at Lionshead.Tower 1 was upgraded by Doppelmayr CTEC more recently.Leaving Lionshead and crossing over Gore Creek.The upper part of the line with Pride Express on the right.Arriving at Adventure Ridge.Contour turnaround.View down from the top at tower 21.The top station has a larger parking and maintenance bay to complement the one at the base.Riding down in the summer.Towers 15 and 16 with the top of Born Free Express on the right.T13.Arrival side at the Lionshead station.Bottom terminal building and lift line.View of the line from Lionshead.Tensioning system at the return.Lower part of the line in winter.Cargo carrier on the line.There are some really tall towers on this lift.The lift line seen from Lionshead Village.Breakover towers.Upper lift line.Three section splice tower.Middle part of the lift line.Lower line.View up near the base.
35 thoughts on “Eagle Bahn Gondola #19 – Vail, CO”
Billy B.May 16, 2017 / 10:12 pm
Do you know the name of the grips used on the Eagle Bahn? I know that they are double grips, but I can’t remember what the grips themselves are called.
I don’t think it was just the lifting frame. It looks to me like it was the entire crossarm. They probably found something about it (e.g. structural issue) that they didn’t like and opted to replace it. It doesn’t look like a CTEC design.
Why do they even have lifting frames on depression towers? is there a winch point at the bottom of the tower? It really serves no purpose other than something for Lift maintenance to cling on to so they dont accidentally fall off the catwalks.
There are usually concrete anchors with metal eyes in them for rigging to pull the haul rope down. And if you then need to lower the assembly to the ground you use the “lifting”frame.😉
If we had a tendency to fall off catwalks there would be a whole ‘nother aspect to the job. Cheap shot there, dude. I realise this is a three-plus year late reply but I hope you read Michael’s comment.
The Eagle Bahn Gondola has lots of sag, meaning either there’s less tension or the gondolas are just really heavy. Also, the deceleration on the lift is really weird and cool.
I’d attribute this partially to the lift’s profile being much higher off the ground than the parallel Born Free Express, which hugs the terrain more closely.
Interesting, I was under the impression that there wasn’t heat in the cabins since we’re always given warm blankets for the ride up for dinner @ Game Creek.
I got a tour of this gondola a few years ago. They have tunnels for garbage/recycling/ and supplies under most of the resort. If you look to the left or to the right when entering the bottom station you can see that they have an elevator to bring it up and down.
If the cabin spacing isn’t so big, they would have a higher capacity Gondola. The gondola not hugging the ground makes for a faster ride time, but evacuating the lift, some people would be terrified. For this lift, being a lift mechanic is not for the people who are scared of heights, thats for sure.
Brody-” If the cabin spacing isn’t so big, they would have a higher capacity Gondola”- Yes…BUT…the lift would need to be re-engineered and they would probably have to: Increase the required horsepower, which may include a larger gearbox and auxiliary power unit; Change the haul rope to a larger diameter to accommodate the increased weight, as well as increase the number of sheaves on each tower.”The gondola not hugging the ground” has nothing to do with a faster ride time. It is designed to give ski under clearance for as much of the line as possible and also give a smooth ride over each tower while duplicating the terrain below. Evacuations, while safe, are always a scary situation for some of the participants. Lift mechanics are fearless:-)
Lift Dynamics 101…Hope this helps.
This lift runs noticeably and meaningfully faster than Born Free next door. Vail has openly stated that an Eagle Bahn upgrade is the next major priority. But with reliable backups in place, I’d personally rather see VR prioritize an Orient Express replacement/upgrade. Consistent bottleneck and maybe the most exposed chair on the mountain. Bubble 6 would be ideal.
Those people who are writing that the cabins have kerosene under the floor. You are joking right?! So every cabin is a fire hazard without any extinguishers?
This lift has run safely and reliably for many years without any of the cabins catching fire. I’m sure Vail would have done something about this lift if anything were to happen with the kerosene tanks. I feel like there is a very slim chance that the cabins would combust, unless you were to drop a cigarette on the floor or something. If the lift were unsafe, Vail wouldn’t operate it, plain and simple.
This is definitely a VERY ambitious idea, but I think this lift should be replaced with a Funitel like the one at PT. This lift would be HUGE with a monster capacity, and would also be wind-resistant and reliable on windy days. Doing this would require the Born Free Express to be removed to make room, but it would significantly boost uphill capacity, and chew through the lines that Vail is infamous for creating. This project likely won’t be implemented, but it’s some food for thought. Let me know what you think!
Another plus with this would be the increased reliability from a funitel as I have never seen the Funitel at squaw go on mechanical hold. Some people might complain about have to take their skis off to get on the gondola although I personally think that lapping a gondola can be fine as long as the gondola is easy to load. (Example: Jordanelle Gondola)
Lift Blog 
Do you know the name of the grips used on the Eagle Bahn? I know that they are double grips, but I can’t remember what the grips themselves are called.
LikeLike
I think they are called AK grips.
LikeLike
How come Tower 1’s lifting frame was replaced?
LikeLike
I don’t think it was just the lifting frame. It looks to me like it was the entire crossarm. They probably found something about it (e.g. structural issue) that they didn’t like and opted to replace it. It doesn’t look like a CTEC design.
LikeLike
That’s a Doppelmayr frame.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Must’ve been replaced around 2009 or so.
LikeLike
Here’s what tower 1 originally looked like:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why do they even have lifting frames on depression towers? is there a winch point at the bottom of the tower? It really serves no purpose other than something for Lift maintenance to cling on to so they dont accidentally fall off the catwalks.
LikeLike
There are usually concrete anchors with metal eyes in them for rigging to pull the haul rope down. And if you then need to lower the assembly to the ground you use the “lifting”frame.😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
If we had a tendency to fall off catwalks there would be a whole ‘nother aspect to the job. Cheap shot there, dude. I realise this is a three-plus year late reply but I hope you read Michael’s comment.
LikeLike
I did, now i understand why.
LikeLike
Are you sure this gondola holds 12 people? It looks like a 6 person gondola to me.
LikeLike
They usually load 8 to 10. With people standing it could definitely fit 12.
LikeLike
The Eagle Bahn Gondola has lots of sag, meaning either there’s less tension or the gondolas are just really heavy. Also, the deceleration on the lift is really weird and cool.
LikeLike
I’d attribute this partially to the lift’s profile being much higher off the ground than the parallel Born Free Express, which hugs the terrain more closely.
LikeLike
They’re weighted with ballast tanks, if you’re quiet, you can hear the water splashing around.
LikeLike
Not water and not Ballast… Kerosene . Its fuel for the Cabin heater under the floor.
LikeLike
Interesting, I was under the impression that there wasn’t heat in the cabins since we’re always given warm blankets for the ride up for dinner @ Game Creek.
LikeLike
Those don’t look like the normal AK grips. They look a bit stronger and more complex
LikeLike
They’re the gondola variant of the AK grip.
LikeLike
I wonder when they rose the floor in the terminals. I remember having to step up into the cab.
LikeLike
I got a tour of this gondola a few years ago. They have tunnels for garbage/recycling/ and supplies under most of the resort. If you look to the left or to the right when entering the bottom station you can see that they have an elevator to bring it up and down.
LikeLike
LikeLike
If the cabin spacing isn’t so big, they would have a higher capacity Gondola. The gondola not hugging the ground makes for a faster ride time, but evacuating the lift, some people would be terrified. For this lift, being a lift mechanic is not for the people who are scared of heights, thats for sure.
LikeLike
Brody-” If the cabin spacing isn’t so big, they would have a higher capacity Gondola”- Yes…BUT…the lift would need to be re-engineered and they would probably have to: Increase the required horsepower, which may include a larger gearbox and auxiliary power unit; Change the haul rope to a larger diameter to accommodate the increased weight, as well as increase the number of sheaves on each tower.”The gondola not hugging the ground” has nothing to do with a faster ride time. It is designed to give ski under clearance for as much of the line as possible and also give a smooth ride over each tower while duplicating the terrain below. Evacuations, while safe, are always a scary situation for some of the participants. Lift mechanics are fearless:-)
Lift Dynamics 101…Hope this helps.
LikeLike
This lift runs noticeably and meaningfully faster than Born Free next door. Vail has openly stated that an Eagle Bahn upgrade is the next major priority. But with reliable backups in place, I’d personally rather see VR prioritize an Orient Express replacement/upgrade. Consistent bottleneck and maybe the most exposed chair on the mountain. Bubble 6 would be ideal.
LikeLike
Those people who are writing that the cabins have kerosene under the floor. You are joking right?! So every cabin is a fire hazard without any extinguishers?
LikeLike
Wait till you find out about gas tanks in cars
LikeLiked by 1 person
well, if your car catches fire on the freeway, then atleast you can try and pull over.
If a gondola/cabin catches fire when youre 30 feet above ground, where would you go?
this lift is a bigger deathtrap than the Gletscherbahn in Kaprun…
LikeLike
This lift has run safely and reliably for many years without any of the cabins catching fire. I’m sure Vail would have done something about this lift if anything were to happen with the kerosene tanks. I feel like there is a very slim chance that the cabins would combust, unless you were to drop a cigarette on the floor or something. If the lift were unsafe, Vail wouldn’t operate it, plain and simple.
LikeLike
Are these cabins still in production? How do they compare to the Omega cabins?
LikeLike
No CWA doesn’t produce these cabins anymore.
LikeLike
This is definitely a VERY ambitious idea, but I think this lift should be replaced with a Funitel like the one at PT. This lift would be HUGE with a monster capacity, and would also be wind-resistant and reliable on windy days. Doing this would require the Born Free Express to be removed to make room, but it would significantly boost uphill capacity, and chew through the lines that Vail is infamous for creating. This project likely won’t be implemented, but it’s some food for thought. Let me know what you think!
LikeLike
I believe such a lift could be called the Lionshead Funitel.
LikeLike
Another plus with this would be the increased reliability from a funitel as I have never seen the Funitel at squaw go on mechanical hold. Some people might complain about have to take their skis off to get on the gondola although I personally think that lapping a gondola can be fine as long as the gondola is easy to load. (Example: Jordanelle Gondola)
LikeLike